The United States publicly blamed Russia on Thursday for carrying out the so-called NotPetya cyber attack last year that crippled government and business computers in Ukraine before spreading worldwide.
The White House statement came just hours after the British government attributed the attack to Russia, a conclusion that many private sector cybersecurity experts have already reached and published.
The attack in June 2017 “spread worldwide causing billions of dollars in damage in Europe, Asia, and the Americas,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
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“This was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to destabilize Ukraine and clearly shows Russia’s involvement in the current conflict,” Sanders added. “This was also a ruthless and indiscriminate cyber attack that will be met with international consequences.”
Earlier on Thursday, Russia denied the British government’s accusation that it was behind the attack, saying it was part of a “Russophobic” campaign being waged by some Western countries.
